Covered ladle



Nov 30, 1937. M. w. GOLDBERG El AL 2,100,71

COVERED LADLE Filed April 11, 1956 If: 2 I a /0 k IN VENTOR.

W494, & m g

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 30, 1937 COVERED LADLE Max W. Goldberg and Wallace W. Drissen, Port Washington, Wis., assignors to Modern Equip ment Company, Port Washington, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application- April 11, 1936, Serial No. 73,829

7 11 Claims. f This invention relates to improvements in covered ladles.

l-Ieretofore, in foundry practice, it has been customary to utilize relatively small sized ladles which hold only a limited quantity of molten ,metal. 'Necessarily,therefore, these ladles must ;be frequently refilled and a large number kept a in constant use in order to: handle mold requirements. Thus, a relatively large numberof attendants are needed to take care of. the plurality of small ladles, whichresults in high overhead. I It has been impractical heretofore to utilize ladles of larger size as the large quantity of molten metal would radiate an excessive amount of heat, making it impossible for attendants to remain near enough to'take care of the pouring operations. Furthermore, in view of the large capacity, the ladles could not be emptied rapidly enough to prevent solidification therein.

In applications Serial Nos. 746,042 and 43,146, are disclosed means rendering the employment of large ladles entirely practical through theuse of an insulated protecting cover. The present invention contemplates the use of an improved form of cover together with improved means for facilitating the opening and closing thereof.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a ladle wherein the cover may be quickly moved from closed position to open position by a rearward pull thereon.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide in a device of the class described guiding .means on the ladle and means on the cover cooperable with said guiding means for directing the cover upwardly and rearwardly in response to a rearward pull thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide in .a device of the class described means whereby the cover can be readily moved to and maintained in a position to expose the interior of, the ladle, and means whereby when the ladle is manipulated ina particular manner, the cover can be entirely removed therefrom.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide inan improved ladle having a bail and "having a cover movable to-a position to expose -,the interior of theladle, means on the cover and bail normally cooperable to limit the opening movement of the cover.

Other objects of the invention are to provide .in a ladle: c

; 7 Means for locking the cover in closed position.

Means for facilitating the application of manual force to the ladle cover during the opening and closing of the same.

said handle is used to move the cover, and the Means for preventing the front edge of the cover from obstructing the attendants View of the ladle spout during pouring.

Means for effectively insulating the cover.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved covered ladle and all its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims and all equivalents thereof. i

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved ladle showing the cover in closed position, the full line position of the operating handle showing how view taken on ner.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the

numera1 5 designates a ladle of desired form.

In view of the fact that the ladles comprehended by the present invention are of relatively; large size, it is desirable that the same be insulated,

preferably in the manner disclosed in co-pending application, Serial No. 47,560.

The ladle is preferably formed with an upstanding circular rim 6, with a pouring spout I and with side trunnions 8. A bail frame 9 ineludes side bails having hook-shaped lower ends I!) for engagement with the trunnions 8, and an upper transverse bar II.

Guiding members I2 which are preferably tubular in form, are suitably secured to upper side portions of the ladle as at I3 and I4, and said members are disposed in an inclined position as isclear from Fig. 2. One of the guiding members I2 may be provided with a tubular extension I5 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The ladle cover designated generally by the numeral I6, comprises a top disc of metal I! and a surrounding depending flange I8. The front of the cover is preferably straight as at l9, and the rim I8 is tapered in the front as at 20 so that an operator standing at the rear of the ladle may at all times see the spout while pouring is being accomplished. If the rim portion 20 were inner surface of the cover top H.

vertical, it would, in some positions, obstruct the attendants view.

Welded to opposite sides of the cover toward the rear thereof are lateral extensions 2|, and to each of these extensions one end of a rod 22 is rigidly secured. The rods normally extend at an incline corresponding to the incline of the guide tubes l2, said rods being slidable in the tubes as is clearly indicated in Fig. 2.

At the rear of the cover is a short section of horizontally disposed metal tubing 23, and a handle 24 having a projection 25 at its outer end which may be engaged with the tube 23 in the manner shown in Fig. 1, facili'tates movement of the cover from the full line .position of Fig. -2 to the dot-and-dash line position therein and vice versa. Inasmuch as it is desirable to normally limit the opening movement of the cover, the front of the latter is provided with an upstanding stop 26 which is engageable with the cross bar l l of the bail frame, as shown in the dot-and-dash line position in Fig. 2.

It may at certain times be desirable to entirely remove the cover. In the present arrangement the parts are so arranged that when the ladle is tilted rearwardly as shown in Fig. 4, the stop 26 will fail to engage the cross bar H, thereby permitting complete removal of the cover and complete withdrawal of the rods 22 from the guiding tubes l2.

The cover may also be formed with a projecting lug 21 having its outer end apertured as at '28. The lug is so positioned on the cover that when the cover is in the closed position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the aperture 28 will register with the tubular extension l5 of the guiding member 12. When the cover is thus closed, the extension 25 of the handle 24 may be inserted into the aperture 28 and extension Hi to positively lock'the cover in closed position; thus the handle 24 serves the dual purpose of facilitating movement of the cover and locking thereof.

The insulation of the ladle covers has occasioned considerable difficulty heretofore. Fire brick is a desirable insulating material, but when a'fire'brick is made of the exact size of the cover, it is found that the difference in coefficient of expansion between the metal forming the cover there is fire brick 29 inserted in the cover and that said brick is substantially less in diameter than the cover. The fire brick is also preferably formed with bevelled side edges 30 and with a plurality'of recesses 31 in its lower face, communicating with bores 3| extending through the fire brick. In order to line a cover in the manner disclosed in the present invention, a thin layer of fire clay is spread on the upper surface of the fire brick 29 and the brick is pressed against the Bolts 32 are then passed through the holes 3i in the fire brick and through registering apertures in the cover portion I1, the heads of the bolts'being received in the recesses 3|. Nuts 33 are then threaded on to the bolts and tightened to hold the fire brick'in position. Next fire clay or other refractory material is packed while in plastic condition between the edges of theifire brick and the cover rim as at 34 and permitted to harden. Due to the bevel 30 on the fire brick, interlocking will take place between the edges of the fire brick and the hardened refractory material 34 to hold the two materials in position. After the bolts are in place it is desirable to fill the recesses 3| with refractory material as at 35. It is also preferred to weld .or otherwise secure a ledge 36 in position below the refractory material 34.

a The joint formed at 30 between the fire brick and the fire clay will permit a normal amount of expansion to take place in the lining without disrupting the cover. .In addition, it will be noted that there is clearance between the sides of the bolt holes 31] and the bolts to allow for a certain amount of shifting of the fire brick during expansion thereof.

With this method of lining, it is apparent that one size of fire brick 29 may be readily adapted for use in various sizes of covers, it being merely necessary to utilize more or less of the refractory material 34 as an edge filling.

It is apparent that "the cover and associated mechanism permits the cover to be readily opened and closed by manipulation of the handle 24, and that the cover can be further locked in position through use of the same handle. Due to the fact that the lower'portion 31 of the cover rim overlaps the rim 6 of the ladle, it is apparent that a straight rearward sliding movement of the cover to open the same would not function. Due however, to the use of the inclined guiding tubes I2 and cooperating inclined rods 22, it is apparent that the cover is simultaneously raised, so that the flange portions 31 clear the rim 6, while the cover is being moved rearwardly.

Although only one form 'of the invention has been shown and described, it is apparent that variouschangesand modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What we claim is:-

1. In combination, a ladle, a bail in connection with said ladle, a ladle cover, a slidable connection between the ladle and cover to provide for movement of the cover to a position to expose'the interior :of the ladle, and stop means projecting upwardly from the cover engageable with a portion of the bail when the cover has been moved rearwardly-a predetermined distance to limit the opening movement of the cover.

' 2. In combination, a ladle, a bail in connection with said ladle, a ladle cover, a slidable connection between the ladle and cover to provide :for movement of the cover to a position to expose the interior of the ladle, and stop means on the cover engageable with a portion of the bail to limit the opening movement of the cover when the ladle is in normalposition, said stop means being so positioned that when the-ladle is'tilted in a predetermined manner, the cover may be entirely removed. 3. In combination, a ladle, a *cover therefor, guiding tubes secured to opposite exterior side portions of the ladle and extending rearwardly .rearwardly and upwardly, and inclined rods projecting from opposite exterior "side portions of:

the cover and slidable in said guiding tubes to provide for slidable opening of the cover by a rearward pull thereon.

5. In combination, a ladle, a cover therefor, guiding tubes secured to opposite exterior side portions of the ladle, rods projecting from opposite exterior side portions of the cover and slidable in said guiding tubes to provide for slidable opening of the cover, a tube extending vertically upwardly from the ladle, a lug projecting from the cover and having an aperture therein registrable with said vertical tube when the cover is closed, and means insertable in said aperture and vertical tube to lock the cover in closed position.

6. In combination, a ladle, a cover therefor, a slidable connection between the ladle and cover to provide for movement of the coverto a position to expose the interior of the ladle, a separable cover operating handle, means on the cover with which said handle is engageable to open the cover, and other means with which said handle is interchangeably engageable to lock the cover in closed position.

'7. In combination, a ladle having trunnions projecting laterally therefrom, a bail engageable with said trunnions to support said ladle for pivotal movement, a cover therefor, guiding means fixedly connected to said ladle above said trunnions and within said bail and extending at an angle rearwardly and upwardly at an angle to the plane of the cover also within said bail, and means on the cover cooperable with said guiding means on the ladle whereby the cover may be slidably moved on said fixed guiding means simultaneously rearwardly and upwardly without interference from said bail while being main tained in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of its ladle closing position, said guiding means and means on the cover being engageable to maintain the cover in position when the ladle is tilted for pouring.

8. In combination, a ladle having trunnions projecting laterally therefrom, a bail engageable with said trunnions to support said ladle for pivotal movement, a cover therefor, and a slidable connection between the ladle and cover positioned exteriorly of the latter and to the side thereof to provide for movement of the cover to a position to expose the interior of the ladle wherein a portion of the cover overhangs an exterior wall portion of the ladle, the slidable connection being disposed above the ladle trunnions and within the bail whereby the cover may be moved without interference from said bail.

9. In combination, a ladle having trunnions projecting laterally therefrom, a bail engageable with said trunnions to support said ladle for pivotal movement, a cover therefor, and an inclined slidable connection between the cover and ladle positioned exteriorly of the latter and to the side thereof and constructed to provide for movement of the cover simultaneously upwardly and rearwardly to a position to expose the interior of the ladle, the slidable connection being disposed above the ladle trunnions and within the bail whereby the cover may be moved without interference from said bail.

10. In combination, a ladle having a substantially circular top provided with a rim and having trunnions projecting laterally therefrom, a bail engageable with said trunnions to support said ladle for pivotal movement, a cover having flanges adapted to overlap said rim, and an inclined slidable connection between the ladle and cover positioned exteriorly of the latter and to the side thereof to provide for movement of the cover upwardly and rearwardly to expose the interior of the ladle wherein a portion of the cover overhangs an exterior wall portion of the ladle, the upward movement causing the cover flanges to clear the ladle rim, the slidable connection being disposed above the ladle trunnions and within the bail whereby the cover may be moved without interference from said bail.

11. In combination, a ladle having trunnions projecting laterally therefrom, a bail engageable with said trunnions to sup-port said ladle for pivotal movement, a cover for said ladle, guiding tubes secured to opposite exterior side portions of the ladle above the trunnions and within the bail, and rods projecting from opposite exterior side portions of the cover and slidable in said guiding tubes to provide for slidable opening of the cover by a pull thereon.

MAX W. GOLDBERG. WALLACE W. DRISSEN. 

